Attachment for scaffolding



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T.'OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR SCAFFOLDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,578, dated March25, 1884. Application filed October 25, 1883. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. OBRIEN, of

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a ogrtain new and usefulImprovement in Attachments for Scaffolding, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lis a view in perspective of my improvement as applied-to awindow; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing also horizontalsections through the scaffold-upright and the window-frame.

In erecting exterior scaffolding it is necessary, of course, to providelateral supports or braces for thescaffold-upright, and as they must befirmly secured to the building, they are usually nailed to the windowsills or frames-,a method which frequently results in the defacement, ofthe latter.

The object of my invention is to so construct these braces as that theycan be readily secured to and removed from the windowsill withoutdisfiguring the sill. As windowframes are at present constructed it isan almost universal practice to extend the molding which forms theoutside guide for the upper sash, and sometimes known as the outersash-bead, all the way down to the sill, and it is this feature ofconstruction of which I avail myself to obtain the necessary lateralhold for the brace, the vertical rest being upon the sill itself.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the window'sill, and B theouter sashbead, extending down to thesame. G is the scaffold-upright,which is shown as constructed in accordance with the method specified inanother application (Serial No. 109,978) filed by me contemporaneouslyherewith. The up right is provided with horizontal holes a, to receivethe bolts b, by means of which the brace is secured thereto. This braceconsists of a stout iron bar, D, preferably constructed of the formshown, and provided with a series of horizontal holes, 0, near one end,to adapt it to uprights at different distances from the window. Theother end rests upon the telescopic locking-piece'E. to which it isattached by means of a thumb-screw, d, or in any convenient manner. Adiagonal stay,

13, secured to the center of the bar D and to the locking-piece E bythumb-screws g h, is

also provided to insure steadiness.

The locking-piece consists of two bars, e f, one of which is preferablyformed with a groove, in'which the other slides longitudinally, and eachhaving a series of screw-holes to permit the bars to be secured togetherat any desired length. The outer ends of the bars 6 f are bifurcated,forming an opening or recess, m, between the forks of a depth adapted toreceive the outer sash-beads, B, which Vary but little in size indifferent houses.

WVhen it is desired to attach the bar to the window, the locking-piece Eis placed upon the sill, and the bars 6 f are extended longitudinallyuntil the ends embrace the outer sash beads, B, as shown in thedrawings. The bars are then locked together, prefer ably by means of thesame thumb-screw, d, which secures the bar D to the locking-piece, or inany convenient manner, and the outer end of the bar D is attached to theupright O by means of a bolt and nut, b. The stay F is then secured tothe bar D and the lockingpiece by the thumb-screw g h, the latter, ifdesired, also serving as an additional fastening for the bars e fthemselves. The uprights 0 being thus firmly braced and secured to thebuilding, the stagings or planks can be mounted thereon either byresting them directly upon the braces D or in any convenient manner,and, when desired, the braces D can be detached without loss of time orinjury to the building.

I am aware thatthe use of an adjustable piece adapted to fit between thepartingbeads of windows is not, broadly speaking, new, and I do notdesire to claim such device, except in combination with the otherelements hereinafter particularly mentioned.

My invention consists in and I claim- The combination,with thescaffold-upright, of the horizontal brace D,-attached thereto, thetelescopic locking-piece E, having end recesses substantially of theform and for the purposes specified, the diagonal stay F, and suitablemeans for securing said parts together, substantially in the mannersetforth.

JOHN T. OBRIEN.

Witnesses: I WM. .11. MYERS, J WALTER DOUGLASS.

